Type-writing machine.



N. H. ANDERSON. I

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. Armenian FILED HAY no. mo.

2 sums-sum I.

IIIYEII T08 J WITHES 58.: c F 7 f M w. a; M 16 mmweowvmnc.

Patented Mar. 21,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- lmwmn Aug. Z a,

' r100 zrs WIT/15858: 2W 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS H. ANDERSON, 0F MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE NOISELESS TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NILS H. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypeiVriting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to ribbon mountings for typewriting machines, and with re: gard to the more s ecifio features thereof to the ribbon spool construction and the parts to which the ends of the ribbon are secured for attaching the same to the spools.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide mechanism of the above character whereby the placing of the ribbon upon the spool or ribbon support in operative position is assured.

Another object is to provide mechamsm of the above character that will be practical in construction and ellicient in operation.

A further object is to provide mechanism of the above character which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a self-contained ribbon spool with improved forms of ribbon core and grip for attaching the ends of the ribbon thereto.

A further object is to provide mechanism of the last mentioned character whereby the placing of said parts in proper operative position is assured.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in )art hereinafter pointed out.

he'invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth. and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein are showna few of the various possible embodiments of this invention, Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the )rcsent in\'ention'.with portions of a ri bon mounting in disassembled position sullicient to illustrate the invention as applied thereto: Figs. 2 and 8 nremodifications showing different embodiments of the invention;

Figs. -'l and 5 are lan and sectional elevation views, respectively, of a further modification; Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the driving spindle shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is the blank from which the preferred form of ribbon core is made; Fig. 8 is the blank from which the preferred form of ribbon grip is made; Figs. 9 and 10 are respective views of modified forms of ribbon grips; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of ribbon core with parts broken away to show thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar arts throughout the several views of the rawings.

\Vhile. the present invention is herein shown and described in its preferred form as applied to ribbon mountings used in that style of typewriting machine known as the Noiseless typewriter, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention may be applied to other well known forms of machines as well. For instance, the ribbon mounting used in the Underwood typewriting machine is shown with the invention applied thereto by the modification in Figs. 4. 5 and 6. A number of well known makes of typewriting machincs,such as those above mentioned, for example, comprise in the ribbon feed mechanism a main driving shaft operated from the carriage spring drum driving mechanism adapted to be operativcly connected with the ribbon driving spindles disposed at opposite sides in the frame of the machine. Upon these ribbon driving spindles are placed ribbon spools, one of which is adapted to be connected to its spindle by suitable alternating clutch mechanism or positively connected to its spindle at all times, the spindle alternately being connected and disconnected with the main driving member whereby it is rotated positively to wind the ribbon thereupon in superimposed layers as the carriage is fed along in a letter spacing direction, the opposite spool or spool and spindle being free to rotate, allowing the ribbon to unwind therefrom. By operating the clutch mechanism between the main driving shaft and the ribbon spool the rotation of the ribbon spool may be reversed so as to rewind the ribbon'upon the spool from which it has previously been unwinding, that is, the clutch certain details of constructionmechanism alternately clutches and releases the ribbon spools from their connections with the driving mechanism to wind and unwind the ribbon in opposite directions. As is well known to those familiar with the operating of typewriting machines of the above mentioned character, among others, the ribbon is usually received from the manufacturer already wound or coiled upon a core or spool of one form or another whereby the same may be conveniently slipped over the driving spindle, and the free end of the ribbon drawn across, through suitable ribbon guides, past the printing point, to the ribbon spool at the opposite side of the machine, and secured thereto in any well known manner, whereupon the ribbon is ready for operation to be unwound from the first spool and rcwound upon the other, the motive power being exerted upon the latter as the carriage is fed along in a letter spacing direction. It is often desirable to actuate the ribbon reverse when the ribbon is nearly unwound from one spool, even when the machine is provided withan automatic reverse, as the same cannot always be relied upon to reverse the feed of theribbon, and the operator must be constantly on the alert to prevent the ribbon from entirely unwinding from one of the spools, producing a drag upon the carriage feeding mechanism, thereby causing the letters to pile up on each other during the o eration of the machine. In order to avoicFthesc and other objections the operator may reverse the feed of the ribbon before it has been entirely unwound from one of the spools Now if the ribbon spool is placed on the ribbon spool spindle or sup port in proper position the ribbon will rewind in a normal manner upon the now ositively driven spool from which it has ust beenunwound, but should the spool be placed u on the spindle in inverted position, as s frequently done by an inex erienced or careless operator, when the ri bon feed is reversed before the ribbon has been entirely unwound from the spool the rotation of the spool will then be in the opposite relative direction from which it should, thereby causing the ribbon first further to unwind and then rewind upon itself. This further unwinding will entangle the ribbon within the ribbon spool and cup and stop the feed of the ribbon as the carriage moves in a letter spacing direction, thereby allowing several impressions to be made upon the ribbonat the same point which would exhaust theink from and in all probability form a hole in the ribbon atthat point.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a core or that part upon which .the ribbonis wound as supplied 'by the manufacturer, with means for positively assuring the same being placed upon the ribbon driving s indle in proper position, or in other \VOl't s, prevent the part from being placed in inverted operative position.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, in which a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown, 1 and 2 represent respectively the right and left hand ribbon spool supporting spindles disposed at opposite sides of the machine, upon which are mounted ribbon spool flanges 3 and 4, res ectivel provided with hollow central cyiindricai hubs 5 and 6 within which are a plurality of spring arms 7 adapted to engage the covers or upper heads 8 by snapping into engagement therewith through a central opening 9, shown in dotted lines, within hollow bosses 10, by which the covers may be conveniently handled. Each of the hubs 5 and (i is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed slots 11 and 12, the slots 11 being wider than the slots 12 and in opposite relation to each other, that is, these hubs are rights and lofts, the narrow slot 12 at one side of the machine being at the opposite side of the slot 11 from the slot 12 at the other side of the machine. A core 13 to which one end of a ribbon 14 is adapted to be secured, as by means of outwardly punched teeth 15, is preferably made from a strip of sheet metal, the blank of which is shown in Fig. 7. ,For the sake of elearness the ribbon 14 is shown entirely unwound from the ribbon core. The ends 16 of the blank are turned inwardly to form an inwardly projecting flange 17 of a width to engage the narrow slot 12 of the hub, and near one end of the strip are punched a plurality of inwardly projecting tongues or lugs 18 wider than the slot 12 of the hub, but of a width to enter the wide slot 11 thereof. The distance between the flange 17 and tongues 18 measured in one direction around the core is substantially equal to the distance between the slots 11 and 12 of the hub. It is thus seen that the flange 17 and inwardly projecting lugs 18 are adapted to engage res ectively the narrow slot 12 and the wide s at 11 in the hub 6, as shown in Fig. 1. These parts 17 and 18 being relatively closetogether, or in a position other than diametrically opposite, positively prevent the eore 13 from being inverted and slipped over the hub 6, yet will allow the same to be inverted and slipped over the opposite hub 5, in which it will be in operative position as the hubs 5 and 6 are driven alternately in opposite directions. For the opposite or free end of the ribbon 14 to secure it to its spool is provided a ribbon grip 19 which comprises a short strip of sheet metal, as shown in blank form in Fig. 8, provided at each end with a plura ity of fastening teeth 20 which are adapted to be bent over. the end of the ribbon to securely clamp the same thereto. From the central part of this strip are two punched up tongues 21 which extend in-. wardly in the same vertical plane and are then bent at right angles thereto in opposite directions thereby to form a T-shaped retaining member adapted to engage either of the slots in either hub 5 or G, depending upon the location of the ribbon wound upon the core 13. From the above it will be seen that the ribbon core with the ribbon wound thereon as received from the manufacturer is adapted to be )laced upon either of the hollow cylindrical hubs 5 or 6 and locked in engagement therewith, whereby the hub and core rotate simultaneously by means of the projecting lugs 18 en aging the wider slot 11 while the inwarcly bent ends 17 engage the narrow slot 12, the construction and arrangement of these parts being such that the coiled ribbon is positively prevented from being placed upon its support in an inverted operative position. The ribbon is then iartially unwound in the usual manner and slipped through the ribbon guides at the mating point and drawn across to the grip 19 which is placed upon the hub of the ribbon support, after which the covers 8 are snapped into place to hold these parts in operative position.

Fi s. 2 and 3 illustrate modified forms of the novice shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, instead of providing two slots in the hub 6, an outwardly pro ecting pin 22 and slot 23 are adapted to co-act respectively with a hollow rib 24 and an inwardly projecting tongue 25 formed by the flanged ends of the core as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is somewhat similar in general construction, except that the coacting means for assuring the core being placed in proper operative osition consists in providin the flange 4 o the spool with a hole 2G'adapted to be engaged by a projection 27 on the core. core were inverted in either construction it would be impossible to place it upon the spool in operative position. The upper rojcction 27 engages the corresponding role 26 on the opposite ribbon spool.

Referring'now to the. modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, Fig. 4 illustrates in plan view the opposite spools as used on the Underwood machine, each of which comprises a lower flange 28 and an upper flange 29 connected by a hollow cylindrical hub 30. \Vithin the hub and through both heads are rovided a. relatively lar e hole 31 and a sma ler hole 82 closely adjacent thereto, adapted to be engaged respectively by large and small pins 33 and 34 carried on a driving spindle 35 shown in Fig. 0. These holes and pins are so arranged on the respectivepnrts as to peruritthe sppol being p acedm ropor operative position upon either spinc le, yet positively prevent the rib- Obviously if the.

bon being inverted and placed thereupon, as the larger pin 33 would then contact with the smaller hole 32, thereby to prevent the spool falling into proper place thereon. Such a condition, of course, would immediately be noted by the operator, as a feed of the ribbon would not then take )lace.

In Fig. 9, 36 illustrates a modifie form of ribbon gri) in closed position. This grip is prefera ly of soft metal that may be easily bent, and when in open position pointed teeth 87 are separated a sullicient distance to permit the free end of the ribbon being inserted therebetween, after which the grip is squeezed between the fin ers to cause the teeth to penetrate the ribbon. The grip is then inserted within the central hub with the ribbon passing through one of the slots, the grip being of greater width than the slot it is thereby prevented from being pulled out. In this manner the spool may be rotated to entirely unwind the ribbon and then rewind thereupon by rotating in the same direction, without danger of the ribbon becoming detached from its securing means.

Fig. 10 illustrates a further modification of a ribbon grip which comprises abody portion 38 bent in the form of an arc to conform to the outer periphery of the ribbon spool hub, havin at each side thereof a plura ity of outward y projecting bent-back teeth 3%) and a lurality of inwardly projecting T-shape lugs 40 on its inner side. The lugs 40 are adapted to engage one of the slots, preferably the narrow one, in either hub, in very much the same manner as the lugs 21 shown in Fig. 8, thereby to hold the grip in operative position with the hub to rotate therewith. In securing the ribbon thereto it is placed adjacent the outer surface of the grip and pulled against the teeth, thereby to cause the same to penetrate the ribbon. Thoteeth may then be pressed down firmly to clam the same in place. In use, should the ri bon become entirely unwound from the ribbon grip it may be rewound upon the same in the opposite direction by the continued rotation of the spindle, as the ribbon could not possibly pull out from engagement with the teeth at one side before it would be cau ht by the teeth at the opposite side, there y to continue its hold thereupon.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of core, which is preferably made of wood, paper or fiber in the form of a cylindrical tube 41. At any point about its upper and lower ends are out small notches adapted to be engaged by the bent-over ends 42 of the dog 43. This dog combines the function of attaching the ribbon to the rip, as by means of teeth 44, and also of oeking the same in o wrutive pos tion with the spool by means 0 the inwardly projecting lugs 45. Adjacent the dog 43 is provided a pin 46 extending slightly within the interior of the core, being adapted to engage the slot 12 in the hub. It will thus beseen that-an article of this kind may act either as a grip or a ribbon core and beslipped over either hub 5 or 6 in proper position. When acting as a core it-is positively prevented from being placed in inverted operative position upon the spool by reason of the projections 45 and 46 engaging the slots 11 and 12 re spectively.

As the operation and manner of use of these several devices are believed to be clear from the above description, at specific discussion thereof, it is thought, may be omitted.

It is thus seen that this invention provides, among others, for all the objects and advantages above set forth.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having-described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination. a pair of rotatable supports, a ribbon attaching member, and engaging meanspermitting the cooperative association of said member with one of said supports, and, upon inversion, with the other of said supports. and preventing operative association of said member with one of said supports in bothuninverted and inverted positions.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a rotatable ribbon su porting means, a cylindrical core upon w iich the ribbon is adapted to be wound having an inwardly bent lug adapted to engage said ribbon supporting means whereby said parts rotate together, and means assuring said core being placed in operative position upon said supporting means.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a self-contained ribbon spool, a cylindrical sheet metal core, ribbon fastening means thereon, means associated therewith adapted to engage said spool whereby said parts will rotate together, and means assuring said core being placed in operative position upon said spool.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable ribbon supporting means, a part upon which the ribbon is wound adapted to engage either of said supporting means whereby they may rotate together, and means preventing said part from being placed in in verted operative position upon either of said rotatable supporting means. I

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable ribbon supporting means, a part upon which the ribbon may be wound adapted to engage either of said supporting means whereby they may rotate together, means assuring said part being placed in operative position upon either of said rotatable supporting means, and a ribbon grip adapted to secure the free end of a ribbon to the other of said ribbon supporting means.

6. In adevice of the character described, in con'ibination, right and left rotatable ribbon supporting means, a part upon which the ribbon is wound adapted to engage either of said supporting means whereby they may rotate together, means assuring said part being placed in operative position upon either of said rotatable supporting means, and a sheet metal grip to which the free end of the ribbon is adapted to be clamped engaging the other of said ribbon supporting means and held against rotation thereon.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a right and left rotatable ribbon supporting means comprising cylindrical huis having -recesses therein, and a part upon which a ribbon may be wound having means associated therewith to engage the recesses in said supporting means, the construction and arrangement of said recesses and part assuring said part being placed in operative position.

8. In' a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable ribbon spools having recesses therein, a cylindrical sheet metal core, ribbon fastening means thereon. and lugs associated therewith whereby the core may be placed upon said spools to rotate therewith, the construction and arrangement of said lugs and recesses being such as to prevent said core from being placed upon either spool in inverted operative position.

i). In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable ribbon spools having recesses therein, a cylindrical sheet metal core having outwardly punched teeth whereby the ribbon may be secured thereto, and means associated therewith whereby the core may lie placed upon said spools to rotate therewith, the construction and arrangement of said means and recesses being such as to assure said core being placed upon either spool in ope 'ative position.

10. In a device of the character described. in combination, right and left rotatable cv lindrical ribbon spools, each having a plurality of recesses therein, a cvlindrical core adapted to be placed upon either of said ribbonspools, means associated therewith whereby said parts may rotate together, and means on said core adapted to engage one of said recesses but not the other in such a manner as to prevent the core from being placed upon either spool in inverted operative position.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable cylindrical ribbon spools. each having a pinrality of recesses therein, a cylindrical core adapted to be placed upon either of said ribbon spools, means associated therewith whereby said parts may rotate together, means on said core adapted to engage one of said recesses in such a manner as to assure the core being placed upon either spool in operative position. and means associated with said core for attaching the ribbon thereto.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable. cylindrical ribbon spools. each having a plurality of recesses therein. a sheet metal cylindrical core ada ited to be placed upon either of said rib ion spools, means associated therewith whereby said parts may rotate together, meanspn said core adapted to engage one of said recesses in such a manner as to assure the core being placed upon either spool in o erative position, means associated with said core for attaching the ribbon thereto, and means adapted to secure the free end of said ribbon to the opposite spool.

13. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left rotatable cylindrical ribbon spools. each having a plurality of recesses therein, a sheet metal cylindrical core ada ted to be placed upon either of said rib )Oll spools, means associated therewith whereby said parts may rotate together. lugs on said core adapted to engage one of said recesses but. not the other in such a manner as to assure the core being placed upon either spool in operative position, means associated with said core for attaching a ribbon thereto, and a sheet metal grip adapted to secure the free end of a ribbon to the opposite ribbon spool.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination, a rotatable ribbon spool having a central hub provided with a lurality of slots of ditierent width, a rib )on core upon which the ribbon is wound having inwardly bent projections adapted to engage said slots, the construction and arrangement of said projections and slots being such as to positively prevent the core from being placed upon the ribbon spool in an inverted operative position.

15. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left ribbon spools disposed at opposite sides of the machine having removable heads and cylindrical hubs, a plurality of openings of unequal size in each of said hubs, and a ribbon core provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting means adapted to engage said openings, said openings and means being so arranged and constructed as to positively assure the core being placed in operative position upon either of said spools, said core having means associated therewith whereby one end of the ribbon may be secured thereto.

16. In a device of the character described, in (ZOll'lhlllillZlOIl, right and left ribbon spo ls disposed at opposite sides of the machine having removable heads and cylindrical hubs, a plurality of slots of unequal width in each of said hubs, and a ribbon core provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage said slots, said slots and lugs being so arranged and constructed as to positively assure the core. being placed in operative position upon either of said spools, said core having outwardly punched teeth to which one. end of said ribbon may be secured.

17. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left ribbon spools disposed at opposite sides of the machine having removable heads and cylindrical hubs, a plurality of slots of unequal width in each of said hubs, a ribbon core provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs of different size adapted to engage said slots, said slots being so arranged and constructed as to positively assure the core being placed in operative position upon either of said spools, said core having outwardly unched teeth to which one end of the ribiion may be secured, and means for securing the opposite end of said ribbon to the opposite ribbon spool.

18. In a device of the character described, in combination, right and left ribbon spools disposed at opposite sides of the machine having removable heads and cylindrical hubs, a plurality of slots of unequal width in each of said hubs, a ribbon core provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs of similar widths adapted to engage said slots, said slots being so arranged and constructed as to positively assure the core being placed in operative position upon either of said spools. said core having outwardly punched teeth to which oneend of the ribbon may be secured, and a sheet metal ribbon griphaving outwardly punched teeth to which the free end of said ribbon may be secured and inwardly punched lugs whereby the grip may be secured in operative position upon said spool.

19. A ribbon gri comprising a piece of sheet metal having iiiackwardly bent teeth at the opposite ends thereof, and inwardly projectin means on the upper and lower side where v the grip may be secured to the part adaptec to carry the same.

20. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a pair of spaced ribbon supports and a ribbon core, said elements having complementary means to enable the mounting of said core on either of said-supports but only in relatively opposite upright and inverted positions.

21. In a. typewriting machine, in combination, a pair of spaced rotatable ribbon supports and a ribbon core, said elements 10 having complementary means to enable Copies of thil patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

